Community Organizing Certificate

The Undergraduate Certificate Program in Community Organizing gives students an opportunity to gain a practical, historical, and theoretical understanding of strategies for promoting social change through collective action.

Students may begin the program by enrolling in ED POL 111. No separate application is required.

About the Certificate

Topics covered include:

Understanding power relations
Building coalitions
Holding government officials accountable
Working with the media

Who may participate:

Students seeking an undergraduate degree at UWM receive the certificate upon completion of their degree, students who already have an undergraduate degree receive the certificate upon completion of the program requirements, and students without a bachelors degree receive a certificate from the UWM School of Continuing Education after completing requirements.

External Training Program

External Training Program Participation in a community organizing training program provided by an external group allows students to meet a diverse range of community organizers from different contexts across the United States.

Currently, the Midwest Academy 5-day training program is the only approved program.

Certificate Requirements

Download Certificate Requirements (PDF)

Students enrolled in the program must complete at least 21 credits of courses within the guidelines provided. Students may take only 12 credits from a single department, and only 6 credits out of the 12 available for elective courses (components 3 and 4) from a single department. Students who wish to enroll (or have enrolled) in programs offered by other groups, including unions, environmental organizations, and others, may petition to the Program Committee for approval. A 2.50 GPA must be achieved in courses prescribed for the certificate.

Career Opportunities

Students gain skills relevant to a wide range of professions, including:

Community Organizers, Youth and Social Workers, Politicians, Community Researchers, and Non-Profit Administrators. The program focuses on urban areas of the United States. Students may also develop their own issue-areas, such as international, environmental, or union organizing.

Due to additional costs incurred in obtaining this certificate, you may be eligible for financial aid. For more information, please call the UWM Financial Aid Office at (414) 229-4541.

Gainful Employment:
To learn more about this, please go to the following link: http://www4.uwm.edu/financialaid/EligConsInfo/gainfulemployment.cfm

Contact the department

Enderis Hall Room 557
2400 E. Hartford Ave.
Milwaukee WI 53211

Mailing Address:
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Department of Educational Policy & Community Studies
School of Education
P.O. Box 413
Milwaukee WI 53201

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M.- 4:30 P.M.
Office Telephone Number: (414) 229-4323
Fax Number: (414) 229-3700
E-Mail: epcs@uwm.edu